Goodbye Microsoft
I feel as though I could write forever about my trip to the Microsoft campus and, as I sit here by the water fountain next to the cafeteria (by building 5) I kind of hope that some of this experience stays with me forever. It's not just the great people that I've met on this trip but the very place (campus) itself that leaves you with the belief that anything is possible.
Today is my second last day here in Redmond so I've decided to spend the time wandering around and trying to see as much of the campus as possible before I leave. So far I've had lunch over by building 42, watched extreme frisbee being played in the main playing fields and wandered through the forested surrounds of the walking tracks.
Depending upon which part of the campus you are in you get a completely different experience and feeling. Let me explain: during the week we've been in a building listening to lectures, being fed information about products and strategies - wherever you turned there was food and drinks. These - to me - were metaphors for the hungry mind and teaching. Moving from there to the busy engines of the precinct surrounding buildings 39-42 (I think) you can almost hear the sound of gears turning and pencils scratching as some of the smartest minds in the business turn their collective attentions to solving some of the hardest and most challenging problems that we face. Finally, the forests, waterfalls and walking paths over by buildings 3-8 are nurturing the creative minds that are challenged by the equally responsible task of ensuring that Microsoft remains ahead of its competition and marketing its products to the world.
To me, these areas abstractly represented the "Learn, Do, Act" that are required to produce quality products and meet customer demands/expectation.
One unusual quirk that remains with me occured on my arrival, heading from the airport to the Hotel. The cabbie said to me:
"That guy (Bill Gates) dropped out of University to do that"
What he failed to mention however, is that Bill Gates has created a place which ensures that he will remain in Uni for a great deal onger than his peers did; he will remain in Uni for the rest of his life!